What will it take to force the government to take action to resolve the current climate crisis threatening both the environment and our way of life worldwide?
About 60 people gathered at Centennial Square in Victoria at the call of 350 to demand that the government address the current climate crisis, starting with a reduction of fossil fuel consumption. Notably present were some Save Old Growth organisers including Trevor Mckelvie, at least one Fairy Creek veteran, and NDP MP Laurel Collins, although the crowd represented a variety of converging interests, all concerned about the impact of anthropomorphic climate change on the entire planet.
What I witnessed was a fractured and frustrated movement desperate to reach out to politicians that do not listen or care and will go to just about any length to suppress dissent in favour of corporate interests and short-term gain. Even Save Old Growth is struggling to come up with a strategy that will work after announcing it would no longer blockade highways. Laurel Collins made the rather tepid suggestion of reaching out to our elected representatives, which the crowd did directly by reminding her she’s the MP of Victoria. But she makes a valid point: one way or another, protesters have to reach out to politicians, and every means of protest should be weighed against this one imperative.
Speeches stressed the fact that this crisis is impacting all living things on this planet. Multiple speakers have lamented the fact that heat waves kill a lot of people due to urban microclimates (it arguably killed as many people as COVID during the same period), that the oil and gas industry doesn’t need even more government subsidies, and that the whole issue constituted environmental racism against aboriginals relying more heavily on the land for survival. One animal rights activist even pointed out humans aren’t the only ones feeling the heat.
It remains to be seen whether more action by protesters can make the government feel the heat. In any case, I expect a very hot protest summer this year, with plenty of people eager to take the fight to our elected representatives.
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